The present invention relates to an ink jet nozzle to eject ink. The nozzle comprises a body defining a chamber in which the ink to be ejected can be located and an aperture through which the ink is ejected in use. The nozzle further comprises an actuator member having shape memory which extends from the body into the chamber. The actuator member is arcuate in shape when in a quiescent state and straightens in shape when actuated. The actuator member is located in the chamber so as to push ink through the aperture when actuated to thereby eject ink from the body.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A printer including an array of ink jet nozzles to eject ink, each of said nozzles comprising: a body defining a chamber in which the ink to be ejected can be located, the body having an aperture through which the ink can be ejected; and an actuator member having shape memory and extending from the body into the chamber, the actuator member being arcuate in shape when in a quiescent state and straightening in shape when actuated; wherein the actuator member is located in the chamber so as to push ink through the aperture when actuated to thereby eject ink from the body.
2. A printer according to claim 1 , further comprising an actuator for actuating the actuator member.
3. A printer according to claim 2 , wherein: the actuator member comprises a heating element; the actuator comprises driving circuitry which is electrically coupled to the heating element; and the heating element straightens when heated by the driving circuitry and curls when cooled.
4. A printer according to claim 3 , wherein the actuator member further comprises two protective layers located on opposing sides of the heating element.
5. A printer according to claim 3 , wherein the driving circuitry is formed on a CMOS layer of the body.
6. A printer according to claim 3 , further comprising metal interconnects for electrically coupling the driving circuitry to the heating element.
7. A printer according to claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a plurality of layers.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
February 24, 2005
February 20, 2007
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